Sunday, August 30, 2015

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

1771 Carolina mountains is a lovely place to be. 1771 Carolina mountains is a harsh place to live.  The Fraser clan is carving out a living and a life with joy and tragedy mixed in in equal parts.

To tell more may give away to much of the story but read it and immerse yourself into the life of pioneers with a partial knowledge of what is to come.  Even people isolated from others are affected by the politics of the people in power, something we should never forget.

FYI Roger is still my favorite.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie is finding Bill distant, then he leaves on a mysterious trip.  Naturally that is just the start of a lot more drama.  Eric tries to make a move, Bubba is a major player, thank you, thank you very much, and Alcide enters her life. 

Sookie has started to look out for herself and tries not to depend on others to take care of her. Best of all she is a lot stronger in how she lets others treat her. 

Funny and fast paced.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Dead in Dalls by Charlaine Harris

Sookie is sent to Dallas by Eric to investigate a missing vampire.  Of course things do not go well.  Upon arriving back in Bon Temps she helps the Belfleurs, again, a bit more excitement than you would want on a nice evening out with associates.
Eric is "Da Man", speaks sarcasm with ease, and has a wonderful vibe to him.  Sookie is much smarter than in True Blood and Bill still irritates, pretty much like people you know. :)
A great escape book that is funny more often than not with just enough danger to make it all move right along.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Read this a long time ago then recently watched True Blood.  Rereads can be very revealing.  I like Sookie better in the books, she is not stupid there like in the series.  Being a telepath sounds neat until you think of all the weird and random stuff you think of all day long.  If nothing else it makes you think about thinking. :)

Bill Compton, vampire, still gets on my nerves.  Eric Northman is still the man and Jason Stackhouse remains stupid. 

The idea of calm and quiet is appealing so I can see why Sookie likes Bill but the idea of having a relationship with someone that wants to feed off of you is just beyond my comprehension.

Overall it is a fun, light read with enough action and drama to move things right along.  There are also aspects that will make you think and reflect upon human behaviors and how people react to ones that are different from them.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Take a reptile loving man with problems caused from a concussion due to a falling iguana, money problems, a savvy teen that is missing a thumb from a gator bite and reality television in the Everglades and you have a recipe for adventure.

As with most of Hiaasen's novels there is a moral to the story, shady characters, lots of humor and a fast pace that leaves you wanting more.  I highly recommend any of his writings but this was one of my favorites.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

Claire has gone back to Jamie, two hundred years back in fact. As with all things Jamie Fraser nothing is simple and as with all things Claire she ends up in the middle of it all without even trying.

Back in the future that Claire has left is Brianna, who is still trying to absorb that she is not biologically Frank Randall's daughter but the daughter of a man that lived two hundred years earlier.  Thankfully she has Roger Wakefield to lean on as needed but being much like her Da she just goes and does herself.

Following Brianna into the past is Roger who learns a lot more about history than expected, especially the hardship portion.  Roger is my favorite character just so you know. ;)

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Twenty years earlier Claire Fraser left Jamie on a hillside to return to her time as he prepared to die at Culloden.  She returned to her life as Claire Randall, wife of Frank, to bear the child of Jamie in safety.

Frank has died and Claire takes Brianna to Scotland where Claire finds that Jamie did not die as planned in the Rising.  Another time of great decision for Claire and now it is not leaving her husband but her beloved daughter who favors her sire so very much.

More is learned about Gellis Duncan and a few more clues are given as to how the stones work.

Fans of the series will be well pleased with how the story progresses.